Transformers Masterpiece MP-27 Ironhide is impressive, despite flaws

The universe has not been kind to Ironhide. The tough-talking old timer had his head blown off in 1986’s “The Transformers: The Movie.” In “Dark of the Moon,” he was shot with some kind of corrosive agent that turned him into a pile of yellow dust. And let us not forget the headless monstrosity that was his original Diaclone action figure.

Needless to say, Ironhide’s been around for a while. And his iconic status endures, no matter how many writers discredit him by giving him the Cybertronian punching bag treatment. It helps that in almost every incarnation of the character, he’s a badass weapons specialist with a no-nonsense attitude, especially where putting the hurt on Decepticons is concerned.

His stint as a main character in Generation 1 remains the most memorable, which is why we now have Transformers Masterpiece MP-27 Ironhide. Handsome but flawed, Takara Tomy’s Ironhide is the kind of figure that’ll divide fans into two distinct camps: those who love him to bits, and those who think he deserves a one-way ticket to Junkion. Though I belong to the former, I’ll be the first to admit he’s far from perfect.

 

Sculpt – He’ll have other ‘bots munching lead

The first thing you’ll notice when you remove Ironhide from the box is how small he is in his Nissan Cherry Vanette mode. It’s a beautiful, solid sculpt, and he’s to scale with all the other Masterpieces, so that the minivan is bulkier and taller than the cars. It’s just that he’s such a larger-than-life buttkicker in the cartoon that you expect him to be the size of a tank.

But here’s where it gets interesting. That alt mode unfolds to become one of the tallest, most robust-looking ‘bots in the Masterpiece line. Of course, he’s a head shorter than MP-10 Optimus Prime, as he should be, but he towers over Prowl, Wheeljack, and the rest. And, thanks to his thick, weighty frame, Ironhide owns every bit of the description, “powerfully built.”

His head sculpt is excellent. Some would say it needs to be just a tad wider, but the truth is it’s impossible to perfectly replicate the inconsistent appearance of an ‘80s cartoon character. What matters is that when you look at the toy’s face, you know immediately who it is.

Whether or not you enjoy the rest of the sculpt depends on personal taste, and how much you’re willing to see past the figure’s limitations as set by his transformation scheme.

In robot mode, Ironhide’s upper torso is magnificent from the front and back. It’s when you turn him to the side that you’ll notice the abnormally slim waist. It’s not terrible, but it does look awkward enough to discourage certain poses.



You’ll also see a minimum of detail on the limbs. The legs, specifically, are bereft of the gears, wirings, and other superfluous doodads you’d expect on a Michael Bay-era Transformer. It literally looks like parts of his body are made of simple rectangular blocks. It’s a minimalistic design that harks back to the Generation 1 cartoon, and if that’s what you’re hoping for, you won’t be disappointed. His chunky feet are particularly adorable – not to mention stable.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the sculpt concerns Ironhide’s enormous pelvic region. Not only does he appear to be wearing diapers, he seems to have attached unsightly red flaps to his hips in a way that’s not very cartoon-accurate. I’m also not a huge fan of the diamond at the front. As much as I appreciate the toyline’s slavish faithfulness to the animated series, this is one of those times I wish Takara Tomy had taken liberties with the design.

Ironhide’s front wheels flip backwards to form some well-rounded butt cheeks. It’ll probably elicit a naughty giggle from everyone and their 10-year-old nephew, but I don’t mind it.

The figure’s red portions have a smooth, glossy sheen, not unlike the real minivan’s. The silver and grey parts have a nice, metallic matte finish. His rear and front bumpers are chrome.



Articulation – Leakin’ lubricant, I can’t raise my arms!

Ironhide’s transformation process is ingenious. Folding the van’s posterior into its anterior to form the upper torso is pure joy. The parts constituting the limbs are swung outwards, then their various panels are manipulated to give shape to the arms, hands, legs and feet. It’s quite challenging, and as satisfying as solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Ironhide’s articulation is good, but don’t expect the flexibility of a ninja.

Thanks to a ball-jointed neck, his head features a wonderful range of motion. The wheels on his posterior limit his waist twist to 45 degrees.

He’s got cut biceps, swiveling elbows and wrists, and hands that can open and close. His ratchet-jointed shoulders, however, are problematic, as his transformation scheme prevents him from raising his arms straight up from the front.

He has ball-jointed thighs, cut and ratchet-jointed knees, and ankles that allow him to rock his feet forwards, backwards, and sideways. The hip flaps keep him from doing 180 degree splits. While you can bend the thighs forward 90 degrees, doing so raises the pelvic flaps, which, to be honest, is quite ugly.




Accessories – Sizzling circuits, look at all those weapons!

Ironhide isn’t called a weapons specialist for nothing.

Let’s just get it out of the way: Takara Tomy went nuts with the accessories. MP-27 comes with several replacements for his hands, a shouting face, a pair of laser pistols, a laser cannon, a utility sensor that attaches to either forearm, a jet pack complete with removable flames, a battle platform, an articulated missile launcher that can be fastened to his back in robot mode, and a missile that fits into the launcher.

The pistols can be stored under the chassis in vehicle mode, or secured to the roof like the laser cannon.

It’s amazing how far Takara Tomy went to pay homage to the Generation 1 figure. The battle platform, which can be used to store all the accessories except for the extra faceplate, should be familiar to anyone who’s ever owned the original toy. And, while technically not an accessory, there’s also the vaguely troll-like Diaclone “face,” which is visible through Ironhide’s windshield in vehicle mode.


Bustin’ Deceptichops

For fair reasons, not everyone will appreciate this figure. Transformers Masterpiece MP-27 Ironhide has issues from a sculpt and articulation standpoint. But these don’t detract from the fact that he’s still a wonder to behold, and a lot of fun to pose. He’s definitely a winner in the accessories department, too. If you’re a fan of the character, and of Generation 1’s minimalistic aesthetics, Ironhide should prove a welcome addition to your Masterpiece collection. — TJD, GMA News